S.F. 298 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 483A.6C Muskellunge fishing fee. 1 Any person required to have a fishing license shall not fish 2 for or possess muskellunge unless that person has paid the 3 muskellunge fishing fee. The proceeds from the fee shall be 4 used exclusively for the muskellunge program designated by the 5 commission. The commission may grant a permit to a community 6 event in which muskellunge will be stocked in water that is not 7 designated muskellunge water and a person may catch and possess 8 muskellunge during the period and from the water covered by the 9 permit without having paid the muskellunge fishing fee. 10 EXPLANATION 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 12 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 13 This bill creates a muskellunge fishing fee. The bill 14 requires any person required to have a fishing license to pay 15 a muskellunge fishing fee to fish for or possess muskellunge. 16 The bill directs the proceeds of the fee to be used exclusively 17 by the natural resource commission (commission) for the 18 muskellunge program designated by the commission. 19 The bill provides an exception to the muskellunge fishing 20 fee requirement for the period of a community event where 21 muskellunge are stocked in water not designated muskellunge 22 water. For the fee exception to apply, the event must be 23 granted a permit by the commission. 24 In addition to any applicable penalties, a person who 25 unlawfully takes muskellunge shall reimburse the state $1,000 26 for each muskellunge caught or possessed. 27 -1- LSB 2406XS (2) 91 sb/js 1/ 1